Versus

Elemis Deep Cleanse Facial Wash Versus CeraVe Foaming Cleanser

Face Cleanser
Face Cleanser
British Brand United Kingdom
American Brand United States

Updated on February 03, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

Elemis Deep Cleanse Facial Wash 33 ingredients

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser 25 ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Elemis Deep Cleanse Facial Wash 33 ingredients

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser 25 ingredients

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Deep Cleanse Facial Wash

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin
Masking

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

Tetrasodium EDTA is the salt formed from neutralizing ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with sodium hydroxide. It is a chelating agent and used to prevent metal ions from binding to other ingredients. This helps keep the product and ingredients stable.

Tetrasodium EDTA comes as a white solid and is soluble in water.

Masking, Preservative

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Sodium Benzoate
Skin Conditioning

Ethylhexylglycerin (we can't pronounce this either) is commonly used as a preservative and skin softener. It is derived from glyceryl.

You might see Ethylhexylglycerin often paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol. Ethylhexylglycerin has been found to increase the effectiveness of these other preservatives.

When to use

Elemis Deep Cleanse Facial Wash 33 ingredients

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser 25 ingredients

4 Routines
50% use in am
50% use in pm
50% use every day
1,217 Routines
46% use in am
54% use in pm
98% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Elemis Deep Cleanse Facial Wash 33 ingredients

Deep Cleanse Facial Wash hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

CeraVe Foaming Cleanser 25 ingredients

2.9 /5
from 24 ratings
Drying (8) Broke Me Out (7) Doesn't Work (6)
laila.21's avatar

Laila

1 year ago
Review

It was the first western cleanser that i ever used and definitely the last.
Hated how no matter how much i scrub my face it doesn’t feel clean at all, plus it dried my face like hell.
Never buying anything from this brand❌

#expensive
#drying
#irritating
#pilling
Bianca1's avatar

Bianca1

1 year ago
Review

It’s bot the worst cleanser there is, but it’s bad enough. it doesnt even deserve these two starts. instead of helping me with my fungal acne, it’s causing more. i have oily skin and this cleanser dries my skin SO bad. i tried once not to use mosturizer to see if the dry feeling is from the cleanser and it was; my whole face hurt and it was very red and sensitive. i don t recommend this cleanser Show more

#drying
#broke me out
#irritating
#doesn't work